Tia felt like she’d just hit a brick wall. Pain exploded in her right cheek, which wasn’t fully healed to begin with, and she stumbled back. She would’ve crumpled to the floor if Maxi’s new guest hadn’t caught her by the shoulders.

“What were you doing in my room?” he growled.

He was so much taller, she found herself staring at his bare chest and, somehow, through the fog of pain, remembered him taking off his clothes. She was afraid to look down for fear he’d taken off everything. But it was hard to be too concerned about nudity, his or anyone else’s, when her face felt like it was on fire. She struggled to blink back the tears that sprang up while trying to get some of the bandages, which had come loose in the collision, to stick like they had before. “I—I came over to take care of Kiki. You know...you know that’s my responsibility.”

“Is it your responsibility to sneak into my bedroom, too? Why’d you do that? Are you some kind of thief? What’s wrong with you?”

She tilted her head back to look up at him—and that was when the bandages and, probably, the tears registered. She knew because she could see the shock that came over his face.

“Oh, my god!” he exclaimed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you okay? What happened to you?”

“N-nothing!” Still rattled from the unexpected blow, she jerked away and stumbled to the door, leaving it standing open as she fled.

“Holy shit.” Seth stared at the square of pale yellow the porch light formed on the marble floor. He felt like a total jerk—and sort of ridiculous standing there in his underwear. The game he’d been having so much fun playing suddenly just seemed cruel. No wonder she’d hung back in the darkness when he appeared, unannounced at her door. No wonder she’d tried to slip in and take care of the bird without notice. She didn’t want to be seen. And he could understand why. Something terrible had happened to her. Before she’d managed to cover her cheek, he’d caught a glimpse of the red, angry scars underneath those bandages, and he knew her injuries hurt, because he could see the tears filling her eyes.

“I’m such an idiot,” he said with a groan. But...why hadn’t Maxi warned him? All the man had to do was send a quick text.

Tempted to go after her, he took two steps toward the door. He wanted to make sure she understood that he really was sorry. But he doubted she’d talk to him. He couldn’t imagine she would ever want to see him again.